(A special message of Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) on the occasion of the Eid-ul-Adha, was published in two newspapers in Mauritius on Friday 01 Sep. 2017: Le Socialiste (Pg. 2), Le Mauricien - Forum (Pg. 15).
A Mighty Sacrifice for the Cause of Allah
Since time immemorial, men have always been
making sacrifices, all for the cause of God Almighty. All religions in the
world teach sacrifice for the sake of God and the goodwill of humanity.
Likewise, the Muslims also, in the spirit of the Eid-ul-Adha festival are
called to do such sacrifices which would assure them the pleasure of Allah if
done with sincerity, purity of body and mind; such selfless sacrifices which
would be an example for all humanity to follow.
The Eid-ul-Adha, which is celebrated every
tenth of the Islamic month Dhul-Hijjah as a conclusion of the Hajj (i.e., the
Islamic pilgrimage) does not only commemorate the exceptional sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim (as), his wife Hajra (ra), and son Ismail
(as), but is also a call for all Muslims to sacrifice their inner
evils and to come forth, pure like a child who submits to the divine will. God
Almighty wants nothing from His servants except that they recognise His all
power, supremacy and unity and submit to His will.
For the submitters to God's will (i.e. Muslims/
Muslimeen) they have the great task of waging an inner war against all evil
forces which try to deviate them from the remembrance of Allah. They are called
to carve their spiritual life in the exceptional example of Abraham (as) who was
one who was ever submissive to Allah. As a prophet of God, Abraham did
everything in his power to teach his people the true precepts of faith and
submission to God Almighty. Whenever Allah tried him, all he ever wanted was to
pass the tests and please Allah. Indeed, he wanted nothing more than gaining
the love of God and accede to His presence.
Even though he was childless, he continued to
pray to Allah to give him a child - not an ordinary child - but one who shall
also, like him serve God and preach His word to the people. When he turned in
prayer to God, God acceded to his sincere supplications and gave him a son, his
first through his second wife, Hagar (ra). And what is more poignant as a
lesson for mankind is the exceptional way in which Allah tried him through the
very beloved child he got at such an advanced age. To
sacrifice one's own son, one's own flesh and blood, an innocent life, one's
sole heir? Such a painful decision!
Any other common man would have shuddered at
the very thought of literally sacrificing his own son, but here the trial came
for such a prophet who has always submitted to the divine will. God Almighty
wanted to try him with his only child, just to know to what extent he would be
able to go for His love. After receiving a clear vision telling him to
sacrifice his only child, yet Abraham (as) knew that he had no right to take
the life of another human being without first seeking his consent.
So, he waited till his son Ishmael (as) reached
the age of puberty - when he is mature enough to be able to take a decision -
and sought his approval on the subject of sacrificing him for God Almighty.
Abraham (as) got such a pure son, filled with spiritual intellect and like his
father, he had a deep love for the Almighty. So, when his father approached him
to know what he thought about the vision he once got after he was born, Ishmael
(as) did not hesitate to comply with the divine will. He showed such love,
obedience and willingness to fulfil the vision of his father, that God Almighty
Himself was deeply touched by such portrayal of submission and love. He tested
a father with his child, he tested a mother with her child, and he tested such
a son with life and death and separation from his only family. Yet, all these
were nothing compared to their individual love for God Almighty. Allah was
their priority, to seek His approval and nearness and to accede to His High
Court as everlastingly blessed servants of God.
The lesson or moral behind this story, is that
this story is not just history, and has to be told and passed on through
generations to show the obedience, and submission of such exceptional parents
and son, but it is an on-going reminder that sacrifice for the will and
pleasure of Allah is never in vain. Sacrifice for God Almighty invites to
Allah's love, and indeed divine love is the greatest of achievements someone
can attain to, be it in this life and the life to come.
This is the lesson which Allah wanted to give
mankind, and especially the Muslims through the examples of Ibrahim, Hajra and
Ismail (as). Every good work should be for the pleasure of Allah, and every
evil should be destroyed for the pleasure of Allah, so that our consciousness,
our souls, and faith shine solely for the pleasure of Allah.
On this note, I
wish to all my Muslim brothers, sisters and children, an Eid-ul-Adha Mubarak!
May you display the same spirit of sacrifice like our Patriarch Ibrahim
(Abraham) and his blessed family (as). Insha-Allah, Ameen.
Munir A. Azim
Hazrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din
Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam
To read the Article in Le Mauricien website, click here.